How to Introduce the Elf on a Shelf
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The Elf on the Shelf is a fun way to get your kids even more excited for the Christmas season while reminding them that Santa is watching. However, introducing the elf can be tricky! To get your kids familiar with the Elf on the Shelf, plan a day to explain everything about their new gift from Santa.
Part 1 of 3:
Getting a Delivery from Santa
- A good rule of thumb is to start the elf when you put up the Christmas tree for the year.
- Keep in mind that the elf has to come every day until Christmas Eve. If you forget or miss a day, you’ll have to come up with a reason for why the elf didn’t move.
- You can make your name something festive and Christmas-themed, like Jingle, or a common name, like Jeff. It’s up to you as the parent!
- For example, you can have the elf sitting on the dining room table or couch with its book, waiting for your kids when they wake up.
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Part 2 of 3:
Explaining What the Elf Does
- You can also have the letter be written by the elf instead of Santa. That way, the elf can “talk” directly to the kids and let them know what’s going on! However, hearing the rules from Santa, who they respect, might be more effective for some kids.
- If you have more than one kid, you can write individual letters or just have one letter for the whole house.
- The book is aimed for kids ages 5, 6, and 7 to read aloud.
- There’s also a movie, called An Elf’s Story: The Elf on the Shelf, which tells the backstory of the elf and might be more engaging for your kids if they don’t like reading.
- If your kid has friends who don’t have an elf, you can tell them that there’s a long list of families who are waiting to get an elf, and you were lucky enough to get one this year.
- To explain why the elf can be bought in the store, tell them that elves can be bought in the store for families who don’t get them from Santa. However, let them know that your specific elf is special because it was a gift from Santa.
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Part 3 of 3:
Moving the Elf
- Placing it about mid-way up the tree will keep the kids from reaching it, but will ensure that they’re still able to see the elf in the morning.
- If you’re stumped with how to set up the scene, you could position the elf climbing into or out of a toy box or dollhouse to make it seem like it was just hanging out with the other toys!
- If you’re having trouble getting the elf to sit upon the animal, try having them lean forward and hold onto the animal with the Velcro on their hands.
- You don’t have to do this every night, but you can do it on major milestones like 1 month, 12 days, or 1 week until Christmas!
- If you don’t have a hot cocoa mix, you can use crushed graham crackers or brown sugar instead.
- Use a round cake pan to create a smaller beach, or cookie sheet for a bigger one. You can get as creative as you want with a beach towel, doll-sized surfboard, or a mini drink for the elf!
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Community Q&A
Should you read the Elf on the Shelf book first?
wikiHow Staff Editor
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
wikiHow Staff Editor
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You can if you like. The book offers an easy way to give your kids some background on how the elf is supposed to work.
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Can parents touch the Elf on the Shelf?
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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
wikiHow Staff Editor
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According to the official Elf on the Shelf rules, no family member is supposed to touch the elf unless there are special circumstances. For example, if the elf falls down from wherever it was sitting, an adult can pick it up with some tongs and put it back where it was. (And, of course, parents get to help the elf find a new place to hang out after the kids are in bed!)
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As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy! Claim Your Gift If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow